Austin City Council approves contract with tech company to monitor wildfires with AI
The Austin City Council has approved a contract with a San Fransisco-based technology company to use AI to monitor wildfires in nearly all of Travis County and parts of Hays, Bastrop, Williamson and Burnet counties.
Austin Energy, the city's electric utility, will work with Pano AI to set up at least 10 cameras that will "continuously scan the Austin Energy service area for any smoke related to a potential wildfire," according to an Austin Energy news release.
"Once a fire is spotted, a Pano AI monitoring center verifies the detection, the camera triangulates the exact location of the fire and then Pano AI alerts the 911 call center to activate the closest fire department," according to the release.
After the City Council on Thursday approved the contract, the next steps in implementing the AI technology will start this month with the approval of station locations, according to Chris Vetromile, Austin Energy's wildfire program manager. The first stations are expected to be installed in November and December, and the system will go live in 2024.
“This is an important step for the safety of our community and the reliability of our electric system,” Vetromile said in the news release. “Climate change is fueling extreme temperatures and this program will save crucial time in responding to wildfires, helping safeguard our community and enhancing our ability to provide uninterrupted electrical service.”
Pano AI's technology is used by seven power and water utilities, 11 fire agencies, 17 local governments and four private landowners across the country, Vetromile said.
Multiple wildfires have torn through the Austin area this year — the Powder Keg Fire near Bastrop State Park burned nearly 117 acres; the Oak Grove Fire in Hays County grew to 400 acres, prompting officials to evacuate several homes and destroying the home of 75-year-old Army veteran Michael Hinz; and a fire in Cedar Park destroyed an apartment building.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott all issued disaster declarations this summer due to the wildfires and ongoing concerns about dry conditions.
The contract came in response to Watson's disaster declaration in August regarding wildfires, according to the recommendation for action attached to the council item.
"With wildfires, every minute matters," Council Member Alison Alter said at Thursday's council meeting. "This investment will ensure that we deploy lifesaving resources as quickly as possible."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: City Council approves contract to monitor wildfires with AI
